# Decide whether to outsource a process or keep it in-house

A structured make-or-buy analysis covering cost, control, risk, and transition for an operational process.

- Topic: Thinking & Decisions
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Legal, Analyze, Explain & Teach, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/decide-whether-to-outsource-a-process-or-keep-it-in-house

## Prompt

```text
Help me decide whether to outsource a process or keep it in-house.

**Process:** [e.g. "warehousing", "payroll", "IT helpdesk", "last-mile delivery"]
**Current in-house setup:** [staff, cost, performance, problems]
**Why we're considering outsourcing:** [cost, scale, skills, quality, focus]
**Outsourcing options we've seen:** [PROVIDERS OR QUOTES, IF ANY]
**What can't go wrong:** [e.g. customer experience, data security, regulatory requirements]

Analyze:
1. Is this process core (a source of advantage or customer experience) or non-core? Explain your reasoning.
2. Full cost comparison: in-house fully loaded cost (people, space, systems, management time) vs. outsourced (fees, contract management, transition, exit costs). Use my numbers and show missing ones as [ADD].
3. Performance and control: what we'd gain and lose in quality, speed, flexibility, and visibility.
4. Risks: dependency, data and confidentiality, knowledge loss, staff impact, hard-to-reverse decisions.
5. Middle options: partial outsourcing, a pilot, co-sourcing, or improving in-house first.
6. A recommendation, the key conditions it depends on, and a transition outline if we outsource.

Changes affecting staff may carry legal consultation duties; check with HR and legal.
```

## What to fill in

- staff, cost, performance, problems
- cost, scale, skills, quality, focus
- PROVIDERS OR QUOTES, IF ANY
- ADD

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